MMGM & Oh MG/YA Canada-Meal Worm Diaries-Anna Kerz

I am taking a page from Ms. Yingling and having my posts do double duty when possible. Today it's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (brain kid of Shannon Whitney Messenger) and my own Oh MG/YA Canada. (see side bar)  With that said, let's begin!

Meal Worm Diaries-Anna Kerz

If you loved Rules. If you loved Waiting for Normal. Wednesday Wars. Okay for Now. If you loved Crooked Kind of Perfect, then I highly recommend you add this book to your to read list. Buy it or borrow, just do read it. This book was recommended to me some time ago. Didn't read it until now. I can see why my friend loved it and why the kids in her book club (middle grade readers) loved it as well. It is real and raw in the pain that Jeremy is dealing with after a horrible accident (that he blames himself for) takes his father's life. But not only that Jeremy is in a new school in the city, struggling to re-find himself and fit in, suffering from horrible nightmares. And then there is Aaron who Jeremy thinks is weird and a pain and he wants nothing to do with him. Hard to do when he is partnered with Aaron for a study of mealworms. As if that isn't enough, Aaron decides that Jeremy is his best friend. That's the last thing Jeremy wants with everything else he's dealing with...the school weird kid wanting to be his friend. The author skillfully and with a whole lot of heart weaves all of these issues together without wasting a single word or introducing a storyline or character that doesn't add to the depth and colour of this novel.

From Indie Bound:Mealworms are small creatures that live in dark secret places. Jeremy is a bit like that when he leaves his home in rural Nova Scotia and moves to Toronto with his mother. Lots of things keep him from enjoying his new life, but the worst is his science partner, Aaron, who is more annoying than sand in a bathing suit. Jeremy is also burdened by the secret he carries about the motorcycle accident that injured him and killed his father. Although Jeremy is haunted by his past, he starts to feel at home in Toronto when he realizes he has some skills he can share with his classmates. And when his mealworm project yields some surprising results, Jeremy is finally able to talk about his part in the fatal accident.

Why did I wait so long to read this? Not sure-but you can bet I am reading her other two books, one of which is a stand alone sequel to Meal Worm Diaries, Better Than Weird.


I got my copy of this as an e-book from the library. I love my library!

Now if you looking to buy, you can also go the following places:

Book Depository
Amazon.com (you can get the kindle version)
Indigo
Orca Books

And of course don't forget to check out even more marvellous MMGM posts from:

Shannon Whitney Messenger (a.k.a. Fearless Leader)-Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe
Jennifer Rumberger-Children's Author
Joanne Fritz-My Brain on Books
Danika Dinsmore-The Accidental Novelist
Shannon O'Donnell-Book Dreaming
Myrna Foster-The Night Writer
Natalie Aguirre-Literary Rambles
Brooke Favero-Somewhere in the Middle
Ally Beecher- Kid Lit Frenzy
Barbara Watson-Novel and Nouveau
Anita Laydon Miller-her middle grade blog
Michael G-G-Middle Grade Mafioso
Jessica Lei-her blog  
Pam Torres-So I'm Fifty
Akoss-Nye Louwon – My Spirit | a search for the writer in me
Gabrielle Prendergast-Angelhorn
Gina Carey
T.L. Conway


If you are taking part in the MMGM posts and I don't have you on the list, do let me know so I can add you. 

#WIP Madness Check In-February 20

Last week this post struck a chord with me.

Shannon Messenger: THIS!

It’s why we and those of you already published keep on writing-you will and do connect with your readers and transport them into the world you’ve created whether it contemporary or fantasy.

This writing work is important and as someone who booktalks and promotes the books you’ve written or will write I’ve seen the impact you have. For that reason I say go team #wipmadness! I know the hard work and passion you all put into this. And even on those days you feel like you are slogging along or not getting anywhere, each time you work around it, push through it’s something to be proud of. Keep on keeping on!

My week was rather all over the place, but I did get some things done.

• Sent an ms out for the WWA Conference. It was not my novel and synopsis. That was not ready. Did make great progress on it though, made some major cuts and gained some insight into the ms as a whole. One important thing was realizing I have everything but the kitchen sink in it. It needs some big trimming.
• Revised and sent out a PB to my crit group.
• Moving along on the course I’m taking, lots of reading and note taking, thinking on paper.

This week I will be:

• carry on with the writing course, reading, taking notes
• revisions on Happy Medium, mostly with a focus on simplifying the plot and creating the scrapbook for the town and characters
• #5minblitz (none last week!)

That’s it from me. Looking forward to hearing from all of you. And…GO TEAM!

Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway Hop-Feb 17-Feb 21

What.
What is that you say?
Another giveaway hop?
Yep, yep.

I love going around and seeing new blogs and sharing in the book love, I must say. This one is Random Acts of Kindness and it's hosted by I'm a Reader Not a Writer and Read for Your Future.

So, I am doing the same old same old, with one difference. This time it can be _any_ book of your choice of a book from Book Depository (up to 25.00 Cdn.). So, adult, middle grade, young adult, picture book! If there is a book you've really wanting to get for yourself, a family member, grand kiddo, next door neighbour...I will get it for you. All you need to do is comment and let me know the book you'd like (I love seeing what ever one else is wanting to read/buy). Oh, and make sure it is available from Book Depository.

Thanks for stopping by and...Happy Hopping! << click to return to the hop list

Follower Love Giveaway Hop and the winner is...

First off...I so, so appreciate everyone who took the time to stop by and comment. It was great to see the titles people mentioned, too. One that came up a (quite) few times was Article 5 by Kristen Simmons and  Random.org  picked...

Kathryn of Mining Kat's Thoughts as the giveaway with with Article 5 with that book. Big congrats to her...the book is on the way!

For those of you wondering about Article 5 by  here is a the description from Indie Books:
New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned. The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes. There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back. Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different. Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.  That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.


Congrats to Kathryn and thanks again to all who entered!

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday-Zeke Bartholomew: Super Spy! by Jason Pinter

Happy MMGM all! Today I'm sharing the love for Zeke Bartholomew: Super Spy! by Jason Pinter. Liked this character from page one. He's funny, self effacing, great sense of humour and he has a dream. He wants to be a spy. And he has a knack for inventing useful spy stuff. Okay, sort of useful spy stuff that goes wrong sometimes. If he had access to the proper materials and lab I'm sure his inventions would work much better. Needless to say when a spy apparently moves in next door Zeke is ready to do some spying of his own. Zeke is fourteen and ready to chase his dream...even if it means sifting through the garbage. You have to start somewhere. Right? Right. From there things go bad to worse and really worse in a heartbeat. Think life in danger.
Alex Rider move on over, Zeke is on the case, even when he gets so nervous he...hiccups.

From IndieBound: Zeke Bartholomew has always dreamed of being a spy. But when a case of mistaken identity goes horribly wrong, he's thrust into a world of real-life espionage beyond his wildest dreams. Soon this 7th grade nobody finds himself hunted by the lava-powered behemoth Ragnarok, aided by a mysterious butt-kicking girl who goes only by the codename 'Sparrow', while trying to stop the evil mastermind Le Carr from unleashing a device that will turn millions of kids around the world into brainwashed zombie minions. Zeke has always been a zero, and unless he can fumble his way towards becoming a hero, the world is doomed... 
Full of action, humor, suspense, and more impractical spy gadgets than you can imagine, Zeke Bartholomew is a hero for a new generation. The fate of the world is in his hands! (uh oh...)


Very glad I was able to read this one compliments of NetGalley and Sourcebooks.


Enjoy the rest of the day and other MMGM posts compliments of:

Shannon Whitney Messenger (a.k.a. Fearless Leader)-Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe
Jennifer Rumberger-Children's Author
Joanne Fritz-My Brain on Books
Danika Dinsmore-The Accidental NovelistShannon Whitney Messenger-Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe 
Shannon O'Donnell-Book Dreaming
Myrna Foster-The Night Writer
Natalie Aguirre-Literary Rambles
Brooke Favero-Somewhere in the Middle
Ally Beecher- Kid Lit Frenzy
Barbara Watson-Novel and Nouveau
Anita Laydon Miller-her middle grade blog
Michael G-G-Middle Grade Mafioso
Jessica Lei-her blog  
Pam Torres-So I'm Fifty
Akoss-Nye Louwon – My Spirit | a search for the writer in me
Gabrielle Prendergast-Angelhorn
Gina Carey
T.L. Conway

#Wipmadness Check In-February 13

Here we are on week three of February #wipmadness. The weeks seem to be flying by. Thought I'd start us off this week with Happy Birthday wishes for yesterday to Judy Blume! From her site:

When I began to write, some people humored me. "You've always been such a dreamer!" Some discouraged me. "Do you know what the odds are...do you know how many would-be writers there are out there?" Some were actually angry. "What makes you think you can write?"


Very glad she did not listen and kept on writing. Sometimes it is just what you have to do.

Spent most of my time this last week working through the articles for the course I am taking. It's with Susan Sipal of Harry Potter for Writers and even though I am only finishing up week one (there are three more to go) I can say I highly recommend it. It's not just for fantasy writers. Heck, I am even learning loads about characters and stakes that I can apply to my picture books!

Spent Sunday night working on my submission for the Western Washington Annual SCBWI Conference. Got one query done and out for a picture book and have two more I am working on for the same picture book, just researching the agents some more to make sure they are a good fit.

Got in just a couple of #5minblitz 's.

For the upcoming week:
-carry on with Harry Potter for Writers course
-create a character notebook for Happy Medium and write a not to be used scene for some of my cameo characters and other secondary's who don't play a bit role in the book ala this exercise compliments of Danika Dinsmore.

Enjoy the week all and keep on writing!

Three Writing Reads and Blog appearance

Been a while since I have done one of these posts, so thought it about time I got back into the habit.

Working on a synopsis for critique session I have at an upcoming conference. I wrote this synopsis as I wrote the actual book. It helps me get the whole story in my head for those times it is simmering away between revisions. I thought it would make polishing the synopsis easier. Nope. At least not for me. That’s okay. I’ve just come to the conclusion working out a synopsis does not come easy for me. Hence I am glad for articles (and his entire website actually) like this one:

Writing a Good Synopsis

My current middle grade is requiring some serious world building because of the level of paranormal in it. I’m creating a whole new movement out of early spiritualism (1850’s) that created Howling Heights (the place my MC, Happy, lives). Was pleased to come across this article today! It has me thinking I need to do more on paper. Out where I can see it, if that makes sense. A lot of what I’ve created is on the computer and in my head. Even thinking that I could create a Spiritualist Handbook (secret of course, because the town founders were baddies).

SO I'M FIFTY!: World Building Technique: An Interview with Jen Reese Author of Above World

Most of you are probably already familiar with this next blog. Harry Potter for Writers. I’m taking a course from Susan this month. Kind of love her site. Whether you are a fantasy writer or not you can learn much from what Susan has to say.

Harry Potter for Writers

Finally, a totally random “thing” from me.

A confession.

I play around with my blog appearance…a lot. Too much. Wondering if there is anyone else out there who does too. I’ve tried creating a separate blog to play around in but always come back to this one. I really need to stop it. I think? Or find another hobby. One that is away from the computer. Gasp. I am sure when they talk about filling our writer well they weren’t meaning stay on the computer until all hours finding the best look for your blog?

Happy writing all!